Receptacle for photographic paper and the like



April 9, 1940- H. F. DUBAS 2,196,293

RECEPTACLE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER AND THE LIKE Filed Dec; 28, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 flvwsvvroz HENRY F. DLJEAS ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES RECEPTAOLE FOR 'PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPE AND THE LIKE Henry F. Dubas, Albany, N. Y.

Application December 28, 1936, Serial No. 117,787

b 9 Claims.

' Photographic paper, being extremely light sensitive, is usually packaged and sold to the trade enclosed in a multiplicity of light-proof containers or wrappings. In many cases, three lightproof envelopes, one fitted within .another, or, at least two wrappings of opaque paper enclosed in a light-proof container are used and the packages so formed contain a selected number of one kind of 'a variety of photographic papers.

Furthermore, since the operation of printing upon photographic paper must be carried out in a so-called darkroom where all light is excluded save that which may be emitted from the usual darkroom lamp, the packages of papers, obviously, must be unwrapped, the photographic paper removed and the remaining papers carefully coveredor rewrapped in the presence of the darkroom lamp to preserve the said papers from damaging exposure. In many instances, experiments are carried on to determine the proper degree to which the photographic paper should be exposed and, of course, each print must be made on separate printing papers and the remaining papers securely wrapped or covered to prevent exposure thereof after each printing operation and while the print is examined under ordinary light. Furthermore, it is'usual to experiment with various grades and types of printing paper and since each grade and type is confined in separate packages. it is obviously necessary to unwrap a package, remove a sheet of photographic paper therefrom and rewrap or carefully cover the same package to protect the remaining sheets against ordinary light. Moreover, the same procedure must be followed with a plurality of packages of paper until the desired printing result is obtained. The unwrapping and rewrapping or carefully covering the papers is obviously not only very annoying, but it necessarily consumes a great deal of time and often the experimenter or photographer does not secure the sensitized papers against light with the result that they become accidently exposed.

Photographic papers also tend to curl and warp due largely to the emulsion on the surface thereof with to expose the'papers in the receptacle and permit facile removal thereof. I

With these and other objects in view, my invention includes the novel elements and the combinations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a perspective View of my invention illustrating the cover in raised position; i

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the closed receptacle; 1

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the receptacle; 7

Fig. 4 is afragmentary end elevation, partially in section, of the receptacle; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional View illustrating the'relative positions of the presser plate and cover when in raised position; 1

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the cooperative disposition of the pr esser so I plate and guide therefor;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the presser plate on a somewhat reduced scale;

Fig. 8 is a sectional, detail view of a groove provided with a gasket therein; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a cabinet housing a pluralityof paper receptacles embodying the principles of myinvention.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates generally my receptacle, iormed preferably. of molded Bakelite or other suitable material, which comprises a body portion 2 and a cover 3 hingedly secured thereto as at A. The sides 5 and B of the body portion are preferably cut away, or, in part depressed, in order to permit easy removal of the papers contained therein which are indicated at -'l in Fig. 1. In the embodiment of my. invention illustrated, the sides 5 and G are prefer ably foreshortened and slope downwardly at 8 to merge with the upper'surface of the case 9. The sides, the rear end and the base of the body 2 areprovidedwith groove ll! of substantially uniform depth throughout and which extends entirely about the body portion. The sides II and I2 of the cover 3 are complementary in configuration to the sides 5 and 6 of the body portion 2 and they together with the ends are adapted to engage corresponding portions of the body portion to effect a closure of the receptacle. Extending about the sides of, the cover 3 is a tongue it which upon a closure of the cover is adapted to extend within the groove IQ of the 1 body portion and effect a light proof closure of the receptacle.

Paper guides M and are preferably provided adjacent two corners of the body 2 and spaced within and at a distance from the groove I 3 sufficient to permit the cover to be seated thereover. It will be noted that with the construction illustrated the sides and ends of the papers are exposed thereby permitting facile removal thereof. Two oppositely disposed guides, indicated generally at It and H, are provided which may be molded as an integral part of the body portion. The guides I6 and I? are identical in construction and the details thereof are best illustrated in Fig. 6, said guides being principally provided to secure one end of the presser plate I8 to the body portion and guide the same to pivot at various distances above the base of the receptacle. The guides are provided with a vertically extending groove ISI, one side wall of which is formed by the rear end wall of the body 2. Within groove IGI of each guide the offset portions or trunnions I9 and 20 of plate I8 are adapted to be disposed. The base of the groove ISI preferably terminates in a substantially semi-circular end indicated at 2i which extends above the side walls and contiguous defining portions of the groove. A retaining cover 22 is adapted to be secured to the end of groove I 'l and the semi-circular lip 23 thereof effects a closure of the end of groove IT and prevents the withdrawal of the cooperable portions or trunnions of the plate I8 therefrom. Inasmuch as guides I6 and I? are substantially duplicate structures, it is believed that a description of one will sufilce. Guides I6 and Il', furthermore, cooperate with the paper guides M and IE to retain the papers in orderly, superposed positions.

Although the trunnions I9 and 2E! which are dis posed at one end of plate It serve to connect plate It with the body portion 2 of the receptacle, the cover 3 is provided with flanges 23 and 25 which cooperate with protuberances or bosses 26 and 2'! respectively of plate I8 to connect the plate also with the cover 3. The protuberances or bosses 26 and 2! slidably engage the flanges 24 and 25, respectively, and when cover 3 is raised or lowered, plate I3 is raised and lowered therewith, the trunnions I9 and 25 pivoting within the guides I6 and I! therefor. The end of plate I8, being preferably rounded, therefore is adapted to pivot upon the upper surface of the papers contained in the receptacle. It will be noted that flanges 2e and 25 cooperate with bosses 23 and 2'! of plate I8 to connect said plate with the cover and, at the same time, this construction affords relative movement therebetween whereby said plate is rendered freely movable to accommodate various thicknesses of paper within the receptacle.

A spring 28 is preferably interpositioned between plate IB and the inner surface of cover 3, the center leaf of spring 23 being secured as by screws 29 to the cover and the two, laterally spaced leaves 30 being disposed to bear against the substantially rigid plate I8 and urge the same, when the cover is closed, in engagement with the papers contained therebelow.

In order to effect a positive, light-proof closure of my receptacle, I have provided the same with a snap lock which comprises a catch 3! suitably secured to the base of the body portion 2. The catch 3| may be formed of a strip of suitable material bent in the form illustrated. A cooperating latch 32 is secured on a shaft 33 which is journaled in the end of cover 3. A knurled knob 34 is suitably secured to shaft 33 for manually releasing the same from engagement with catch 3I while a spring 35 is provided normally to urge said latch toward and into engagement with said catch. The cover 3 is preferably molded with projections 36 and 31 which extend on opposite sides of shaft 33, projection 36 serving not only as an anchor for one end of spring 35 but also as a stop against which the shoulder 32l of latch 32 is adapted to strike whereby excessive and unnecessary movement of the latch is prevented. The other end of spring 35 engages latch 32 normally to urge it in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 and projection 31, being disposed to engage shoulder 322 of latch 32, limits movement thereof under the action of spring 35 so that when the cover 3 is lowered against the body portion 2 of the receptacle, latch 32 engages the top of catch 3i and is forced to slide over the lip 3 thereof. Shoulder 323 of latch 32 therefore, moves under the action of spring 35, beneath and in engagement with lip 3| I of catch 3| and positively effects a closure of the receptacle.

It will be noted that in the use of a receptacle provided with a snap lock of the foregoing charactor, a person, for example, may, by using only one hand, raise the cover, remove a paper and reclose the receptacle simply by pressing the cover down against the body portion thereof and the remaining papers are positively protected against accidental exposure.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated the groove I O which extends about the body portion 2 in which is disposed a gasket 38. When the cover is lowered, tongue I3 thereof enters groove I 0 and engages gasket 38 thereby not only effecting a light proof closure of the receptacle but also sealing the contents from theatmosphere.

In filling my light proof receptacle, it is merely necessary to elevate the cover, slide the presser plate upwardly, the trunnions I9 and 20 thereof sliding in the guides I6 and I'l therefor and the bosses 2B and 21 sliding along the flanges 24 and 25, and insert the photographic papers beneath the end of said plate. Assuming that the papers are of correct size to fit the receptacle, they will fit within the paper guides l4 and I5 and extend between the guides I5 and 11. Obviously, when a sheaf of papers is precisely located and retained within the receptacle in the foregoing manner, one or more papers may be removed and the remaining papers cannot be inadvertently disarranged whereby all danger of rupturing or O wrinkling the same between the cover and body portion when the receptacle is closed is entirely obviated.

Upon closing the receptacle, presser plate I8 pivots on one end upon the surface of the sheaf of papers until it is in contact throughout its length therewith whereupon spring 28 serves to compress the papers between the plate and the base 9 of the receptacle to prevent curling and warping thereof.

It is important to note that the presser plate, due to the novel manner employed in connecting the same to the body portion and cover of the receptacle, is movable vertically relative to the papers contained in the receptacle and is adapted to engage the papers and pivot at one end upon the surface thereof whereby movement of the presser plate with the cover will not disarrange or crumple the papers in any way.

Inasmuch as the receptacle must be filled and the papers withdrawn therefrom in a darkroom, it will be noted that I have so designed the same that the above operations may be very easily carried out in total darkness and the papers are positively and effectively secured against accidental exposure, curling and, warping. Moreover, my

receptacle is designed to facilitate these opera tions whereby the time consumed is reduced to a minimum.

Furthermore, my receptacle can also be used for out films and the like and it is important to note that I have so designed the samethat it can be easily filled and the contents withdrawn therefrom in total darkness thereby making the receptacle a very eflicient and safe depository for all kinds of supersensitive cut films which must be handled in total darkness.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, a cabinet 39 may be provided for housing the receptacles as drawers in which event it is desirable to provide the backs of said receptacles with supporting extensions, indicated generally at 40, which may be provided with suitable, well-known, stop attachments adapted to cooperate with the cabinet to limit outward movement of the drawers. The various drawers or receptacles may contain different grades and kinds of paper and indications of the contents thereof may be borne on the front of each.

It is to be understood that various elements may be substituted for those herein illustrated and. described and the structural design of the receptacle may be varied without departing from the true spirit of my invention. Hence, while I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description and not of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and: spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. In a receptacle for photographic papers and the like, a body portion, a cover hingedly secured thereto, a presser plate, cooperable meansfor guiding an end of said plate to pivot at variable heights above the base of said body portion and means for connecting said plate to said cover whereby when said cover is raised said plate is raised therewith.

2. In a. receptacle for photographicpapers and the like, a body portion, a cover hingedly secured thereto, a presser plate, cooperable means for guiding an end of. said plate to pivot at variable heights, above the base of said body portion and cooperable means for permitting relative movement between said cover and plate but operative to raise said plate with said cover.

3. In a receptacle for photographic papers and the like, a body portion, a cover hingedly secured thereto, a presser plate, cooperable means for guiding an end of said plate to pivot at variable heights above the base of said body portion, means for connecting said plate to said cover whereby when said cover is raised said plate is raised therewith and resilient means interposed between said plate and cover.

4. In a receptacle for photographic paper and the like, a body portion, a cover hingedly secured thereto, a presser plate and a spring for actuating the same, cooperatively disposed means for guiding an end of said plate to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base of. said body portion and means ior connecting said plate to said cover and affording relative movement therebetween whereby when said cover is raised said end of said plate may be variably spaced 6. In a receptacle for photographic paper and the like, a body portion, a cover hingedly secured thereto, a presser plate, a spring for actuating said plate, means for connecting said plate to said cover and aifording relative movement therebetween; said body portion being provided with a groove adjacent an end thereof and extending perpendicularly to' the base thereof and said plate being provided at one end with a portion adapted to pivot within said groove whereby an end of said plate is adapted to'rest upon vari,-

ous thicknesses of paper accommodated between:

said plate and the base of said body portion and pivot thereupon when said cover is raised or lowered.

7. In a receptacle for photographic paper and the like, a body portion, a cover hingedly secured thereto, a presser plate, means for connecting one end of-said plate to said body portion and forming a guide for said plate extending substantially perpendicularly to the base-of. said body portion, means for connecting said plate with said cover and a spring interposed between said plate and cover and disposed to engage said plate intermediate its points of connection with r said body portion and cover.

8. In a receptacle for photographic papers and the like, a body portion, a cover hingedly secured thereto, substantially rigid pressing means arranged to engage the upper surface portions of superposed papers in said body to preserve them in fiat condition, and means for slidably connecting said pressing means to said cover and affording movement of said pressing means in a direction toward and away from said cover but operable to raise said pressing means with said cover. p

9. In a receptacle for photographic papers and the like, a body portion, a cover hingedly secured thereto, a substantially rigid presser plate, means for slidably connecting said presser plate to said cover and afiording movement of said presser plate in a direction toward and away from said cover but operable to raise said presser plate with said cover, and a'spring interposed between and pressing against said presser plate and cover.

HENRY F. DUBAS. 

